This week, former State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) sent out the following email to supporters, encouraging them to step up expressing their concerns about proposed legislation as the General Assembly moves towards the end of the session.
By Jeanne Ives -
Decisions being made in Springfield right now will change the direction of the state for better or worse.
The month of May is when Madigan and company like to pass $38 billion dollar plus budgets in two hours. Taxpayers need to be on guard.
First a reminder of the state of the state:
- According to a March report by WalletHub, Illinoisans have the highest effective state and local tax rate by median household income.
- Illinois is the LEAST fiscally solvent state according to a George Mason Study last October.
- In 2018 the fastest growing job sector in Illinois was government. We ranked 46th out of 50th in private sector job growth, growing less than 1 percent. The rest of the nation grew at more than twice our rate. This is despite having the 5th largest GDP in the US and a diverse economic base.
- Outmigration: 5th year in a row where we lost more residents than came in. That is like losing the equivalent of Joliet, Naperville or Rockford.
- Despite record returns in the market, our unfunded pension liability grew again last year. According to Moody’s we owe $400 billion, which is over 600% of our sole-source income and the average in other states is 107%
- The state has not had a balanced budget since 2001.
On the positive side, not even one of the worst environments for business can hold back the Trump economy in Illinois. Thank the Trump tax cuts and regulatory reform for an increase in tax collections of $1.5 billion more than anticipated last month. It is an important note to Springfield that growing the economy is the way to grow tax revenue naturally. Instead of looking for ways to help our economy along, though, the political class is looking to spend every dime of that new revenue, and more, without paying down our over $8 billion in back bills or making any other cuts. In fact, despite this influx of money, what is swirling about Springfield is a massive, highest in the nation gas and vehicle tax proposal which would set Illinois back.
With the extreme late term abortion bills, marijuana legalization and graduated income tax bills stalled in the House, there is an effort to focus energy into instead passing this massive gas tax. We already pay the 10th highest gas tax in the nation and the bill under consideration, HB391, would do the following:
- Increase the motor fuel tax from 19 cents to 44 cents (231% increase)
- Increase vehicle registration fees by $50 to $148 (current transportation portion of fee is $98)
- Increase electric car registration to $1,000 from $17.50
- Gas taxes and vehicle fees would automatically increase every year with inflation
- The collar counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake , Will and McHenry could add their own gas tax up to 8 cents
- Cities and counties could add an additional 3 cent tax if they approve union favorable ordinances
- Creates another jobs program that community based organizations run
We all want our infrastructure maintained, so make your legislators prioritize it, because this bill is exactly the kind of bill that will drive residents and businesses to our surrounding borders to do business. Every Illinoisan lives within 1.5 hours of the border, and the majority even closer.
You can stop this bill. The reason the abortion bills, marijuana bill, and graduated income tax bill are stalled is because the grass roots have let their voices be heard. Do not let them get away with this tax increase especially in light of ever increasing property taxes, no spending reforms for pensions or otherwise, and bloated bureaucracies in education and every other government entity.
You can Make a Difference – or Just Stand on the Sidelines
In the Wall Street Journal of September 18, 2018, guest columnist Don Willet remarked, “Citizenship is not a spectator sport.“ Thomas Jefferson wrote from Paris in 1789, “Wherever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Knowing all this, please take action by calling or emailing your legislator and tell them you want spending cuts and reform and no new taxes. Regardless of party – they all need to hear from you and know you are watching. And feel free to share this email with your friends.
Yesterday, I visited the Deerfield Public Library to visited with Megan from State Representative Bob Morgan office. I told her that I brought a sign with the words “One Nation Under God” to our State Capital in Springfield IL.
. I was told that I could not bring this sign into the State Capital in Springfield. Because the word “GOD” was used. Yet this is part of the Pledge.
Megan told me that this issue would be addressed by Bob Morgan office. Around two weeks I could receive an answer.
Megan table was there from 2 to 4 PM. I was there from 2 to 3 PM. One old veteran came and was concerned about the 25 cent gas tax increase.
So yes it is necessary to reduce the cost of the public sector. I suggest all public sector taxing bodies reduce taxes by 10 percent.
Love Saves Lives
Carl Lambrecht
We need Jeanine Ives, truth teller, back in office. DEMONcrat propaganda is killing Illinois! Praying for Jeanine to run for the 6th and for the light of truth to open voters eyes and hearts to elect worthy candidates! America is in the grips of The Second Civil War and the battlefields are the ballot box! Regressive ideology (AKA progressive) is the MO of Satan.
Ms. Ives, given the recent articles in the Sun-Times and CapitolFax concerning a push-poll testing the waters for a possible congressional bid in 2020 in the 6th congressional district, your response to the Sun-Times said you have not closed the door on a congressional race next year.
Please make up your mind as soon as possible, and please consider all of your options, including possibly in the 14th district.
You are well-respected, and given you have run statewide, any of the congressional districts where a strong conservative woman is needed would welcome you. Given the 14th currently has no declared woman candidate, and given State Senator Sue Rezin is giving more signs she will not run in the 14th next year, you would be welcome here.
You measure up better against Congresswoman Lauren Underwood then any of the candidates currently thinking about running in the 14th, or who have declared. You have the better chance to unseat Underwood than anyone else.
We know it’s a big decision. Please pray on it and make the right choice.
Thank you.
Well said.
It appears Jeanne is still focused on Illinois. Actually, I consider Illinois a far gone conclusion, the ship will not right itself until we have a shipwreck. At that point, teacher pensions will be placed on the backs of districts, and each one in single file will file bankrupcy, tear up the pensions and re-write them in a way that is fiscally practical and sound. Illinois will have to experience a reboot so to speak. And I certainly don’t see Democrats doing anything except sucking more and more money from taxpayers till the whole thing collapses. Jeanne has her pick on whether it’s a State direction or Federal direction. Regarding the 14th, I think there will be several good candidates competing in the primaries, and ANYONE should be able to take down Underwood, especially considering the comment she made recently in Congress, that the deaths of migrant children was intentional. I mean that’s bad in every form, she should still be living with her parents. I don’t think Jeanne lives in the 14th district but she could run in any district she does live in and win. She has the biggest coattails of any conservative in Illinois.